DARK ENCOSTA Takes On Five Foes In The Grand Critter G2

DARK ENCOSTA Takes On Five Foes In The Grand Critter G2

Italy (ITY) | Sunday, October 18, 2015 | 2:30 PM
Grade II | $375,000 | 2yo | 8 Furlongs | Firm Turf

    1    SIGH COT TIC by PIVOTAL, out of G2 winning mare LENSHAFT, is a recent Nw2l winner. Owned by Lenny, this colt was a hot race victor in his debut, but took three tries to win that NW2. This is his first route, stepping up from 7.5 furlongs. I believe the colt has a decent chance, but others look to be on the same level or better. 5-1 is probably the price I’d have placed him on too.

|   2   | DARK TRACERS came close in her most recent- a singular length beat in second in the Straight Record Turf Juvenile Fillies STK. The only filly in the contest won her debut and stepped into The Princess Margo G3. A very good race for a second time starter, moving from twelfth (at the second call) to sixth by four at the finish. She’ll increase by two furlongs in the race, to her first route, and she’s got prospects for improvement. I like the price of 10-1.

    3    KRIS S APPROACHING weakened in The Future G2 last time, and finished only tenth by eight lengths. He won in his second, two starts back, a maiden. The colt by DAWN APPROACH is a scratch-bred, and needs to show some improvement today to be competitive in the race. Not worth a bet at only 7-2.

    4     GOLDKILLER becomes the 5-2 favourite, despite the title. After a fantastic maiden win to the tune of an 89 speed figure in his first, it was straight to the G3 level for the COURT VISION colt. A good race in the Cyborg G3, the colt was live and ran home from ninth to fourth. Stepping up again, he finished in the exact same position as the race before (fourth by four), but with four more horses added to the mix in The Future G2. This one is improving, and could win at the route distance. A good entrant.

    5     DARK ENCOSTA is surprisingly the 3-1 third choice. After his first three runs on the dirt, the colt switched to the lawn to score his first listed stakes win. Followed up by the Bobby Papin G2, the colt switched plans from his last time, deciding to come from the back, and did run well, being fended off by now GI winner DEVIANT YOU and ran second. With his last start, he stepped up to the Blue Diamond Road GI, bested once again by DEVIANT YOU, but this time running fourth. I strongly believe the MORE THAN READY horse can take the win. I like 3-1.

    6     GRAUSTEELE is a surprising 5-2 co-favourite. With absolutely impeccable breeding by AWESOME AGAIN, out of GI winning, G3 winner producing mare GRAUSTURM, the colt is making his second career start after a one length win in his maiden debut with an 82 SP. I applaud the breeding effort, but I can’t support a GI bet as of today, especially at 5-2. He should have a good career though.

MY SELECTIONS

1-    5   DARK ENCOSTA
2-    4     GOLDKILLER
3- |  2  | DARK TRACERS